Chapter Six #3
“You’re clearly hiding something. From me and the club.
Eventually, it’s going to come out. I’m guessing you have your reasons.
Just remember this, Charming. We’re a family here.
We look out for each other. Whatever you’re battling, you don’t have to do it alone.
If it has to do with your past, then talk to the club.
They won’t hold it against you. You’re probably worried since you’ve essentially lied to them all these years, but you’d be surprised how many will understand. ”
He said he’d been pinged when Wire went digging into my past. How much did his people tell him? I leaned forward. “Exactly what do you know about what Wire was doing?”
He stared at me silently, not saying a word. Fucking hell. I’d be willing to bet the bastard had it all figured out. Maybe not everything. He possibly suspected Dakota was at my house, if he’d learned Romeo Strayer was married to her. The question was whether he knew who she was.
“For now, I’m going to pretend I don’t know your real name. Have no knowledge of Wire accessing your information. Certainly know nothing of a marriage taking place.” He stood and headed for the door. “But, Charming, this shit won’t end well if you try tackling it on your own.”
“I’m not,” I admitted. “I have help, just not from within the club. Dakota…”
He faced me fully and waited.
“She’s my wife. Yes, I’ve hidden her at the house. No, I don’t want the club to see her or know of her existence right now. It’s not safe. Not for her, and not for the rest of us. No one can know her location. Except now, other than me, three people do. That’s three too many.”
“Club hasn’t seen you with anyone special. This a marriage of convenience to save some poor damsel?” he asked.
“I met her over a month ago. And no, it’s an actual marriage. This can’t leave this room, Cinder. You don’t know the kind of trouble coming for her. They found out where she was living, and she came to me for help. She needs to remain hidden.”
“Sounds like more than three people know.” He smirked. “Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it through the gates and to your house.”
“Fine. The prospects know.”
“I’ll keep your secret. You know I’d never do anything to endanger a woman.
Won’t even tell Meg. Love her to death, but I know damn well she’d go running off at the mouth to the other old ladies.
When you’re ready, tell everyone about your wife.
If you need me to help keep her safe, call me. I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.”
“Thanks, Cinder.”
He left, and I leaned back in the chair again, contemplating everything he’d said. I’d had no idea he’d been aware of my true identity all this time. And if he had my name flagged, what else did he have on the members of the club?
With six people being aware of Dakota and her current location, excluding myself and her brother, I worried it would only be a matter of time before the Cartel came for her.
I pulled out my phone and checked for anything new from Specter.
Not a damn thing. I had no idea where he was or what he was doing.
I knew he loved his sister, which meant he’d want to fix this mess.
Apparently not by giving them back the woman he’d taken.
I tried to get my head back into my work, but it was useless.
I spent the rest of my time playing a damn game on my phone while I waited for Church.
It took my mind off things for a short while.
Sooner or later, something had to give. Cinder was right about one thing.
This job was stressful as fuck, and it wore you down.
I wasn’t as carefree as I’d been before because I now worried twice as much as I had previously.
My phone chimed with a message from Scratch, one he’d sent to the entire club. Church in ten.
I gathered my things, grabbed a fresh beer, and went into Church to wait on everyone.
If nothing else, I’d try to give them enough information that they’d leave me in peace a while longer.
Last thing I wanted was them trying to peek into my damn windows.
Dakota had been awesome about not trying to look out, but I knew it was tempting.
I hated having her on lockdown. There were only so many things we could do together to prepare for the baby, not to mention I wanted to get her an appointment with a local doctor.
One day at a time. That’s the best I could do for now.
When everyone had filed in, I decided to just drop the bomb on them. At least, the one I could share at the moment.
“There’s something you need to know.” I scanned the men at the table. “About my true name.”
“You’ve been Charming as long as most of us have known you. We don’t care about the name your parents gave you,” Stripes said.
“Yeah, well… you might. Especially, you, Stripes. I ran from my past long before I came here. Changed my name years before there was ever a Charming.” I blew out a breath. “The name on my birth certificate is Romeo Halden Strayer.”
Stripes’ brow furrowed. “Strayer?”
I nodded. “Son of Yuri Strayer, of Los Angeles.”
Stripes growled and looked away. I knew he was putting the pieces together. The others looked confused as fuck. Didn’t blame them. The name wouldn’t mean shit to most, if not all the others.
“My father was Bratva,” I said. “When I was seventeen, I ran from that life. Didn’t want any part of it. Faked my death, created a new identity, and I’ve never once looked back.”
Stripes snarled, much like the large cat he’d been named for. “Why bring this up now?”
“Because Wire decided to resurrect Romeo Strayer. I asked for some help with a personal matter. That was his solution. Not sure I agree with it, but it’s too late now.
If the Bratva is watching for that name, it won’t be long before they come for me.
I have no idea what sort of welcome I’d receive.
Been too long since I spoke to anyone I knew back then.
Could be nothing comes of it. Or they could want my head on a platter. ”
“Shit,” Havoc muttered. “You’re fucking Bratva? Seriously?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “By blood? Yes. By choice? Fuck no.”
As my brothers started to murmur amongst themselves, and cast me a few dark looks, I had a feeling it was about to be a long day. So much for getting out of Church quickly.